Assistant Director of Field Education (Early Childhood/Childhood Education) - School of Education - University at Albany

Job Description

The Assistant Director will work with the Director of Teacher Preparation and faculty in the School of Education programs to support students in their field experience, student teaching placements, and internships. The Assistant Director of Field Education will be responsible for the coordination of clinical experience placements for early childhood/childhood education (undergraduate levels) and supporting the students' certification/licensure process, including students in the program for teaching assistants. In this role, the person will coordinate with other field education personnel to ensure continuity and coordination of contact with the BOCES, school districts, and schools.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Organization/Facilitation of Clinical Experiences (CE)
  • Meet with faculty, administrators, and liaisons in local early childhood settings and elementary schools to develop and maintain relationships for field experience (FE) and student teaching placements (STP) across the state.
  • Organize and assign students to liaison schools.
  • Pair students with mentor teachers and field supervisors.
  • Work with Director of Teacher Preparation when issues with CE arise (from either the student, faculty or mentor teacher perspective).
  • Participate in the organization and facilitation of site supervisor recruitment/preparation, mentor teacher preparation, and CE student orientations.
  • Maintain regular correspondence with principals, liaisons, mentor teachers, and student teachers.
  • Manage all documentation of CE completion on behalf of programs (time logs, evaluations etc.).
  • Support/maintain rapport with faculty teaching CE courses; assists with problem solving as needs arise.
  • Assist stakeholders in developing corrective action plans for preservice student teachers needing additional support to succeed in field experience and/or student teaching.
  • Oversee the certification option for teaching assistants.
  • Submit milestones associated with CE when appropriate.
• Administrative Duties
  • Attend Department/Program meetings as needed.
  • Participate in meetings with programs to ensure placements and students are successful.
  • Assist in admissions process for BS applicants as needed.
  • Support accreditation efforts for the undergraduate programs in regard to clinical partnerships and practice.
  • Coordinate with the PIE Office to attend recruitment events and support recruitment activities.
  • Attend and participate in regional and state meetings as well as yearly SUNY workshops related to student teaching and field experiences, as needed.
• Teaching
  • Three courses per year related to the educator preparation programs. Examples include EEDU 479, EEDU 480, ETAP 201, EPSY 390.
• Other reasonable duties as assigned.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

• Reports to Director of Teacher Preparation.
• May supervise employees as assigned (no direct reports at time of filling position).

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in teacher education or a related field from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in Birth- grade 6 education as a teacher, school leader, consultant and/or specialist in a setting where teaching and learning are the main purpose.
• Teaching certification in early childhood and/or childhood.
• Evidence of effective teaching, curriculum development, and/or education administration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Permanent or professional teaching certification.
• Experience mentoring pre-service teachers in Birth-Grade 6 settings.
• Experience with program accreditation.
• Experience arranging, placing, or overseeing field experiences in schools for undergraduate and/or graduate students.
• Experience serving as a clinical placement supervisor or campus-based educator to students engaged in field placement requirements.
• Higher education teaching experience.
• Experience building and sustaining productive relationships with community/school and/or IHE partners.

Working Environment:

• Typical office environment
• B-12 school settings
• Some evening and weekend hours
• Ability to travel to schools/partner organizations

Additional Information:

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Senior Staff Assistant, SL3, $60,000-$65,000.